Kashmir Floods: 21 Missing, Several Trapped As Buildings Suffer Damage In The Valley

IANS

Hindustan Times via Getty Images

SRINAGAR, INDIA - MARCH 29: Paramilitary soldiers walks along flooded roads following heavy rain on March 29, 2015 in Srinagar, India. Intermittent rainfall across Kashmir raised water level of streams and rivers, triggering panic among resident of floods. The valley has been witnessing heavy rainfall since Saturday, leading to a sudden surge in water level in rivers, streams and rivulets. The Met Department has predicted more rain over the next six days with heavy rain expected today and on April 3. (Photo by Waseem Andrabi/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)

SRINAGAR - Flash floods triggered by incessant rain have damaged scores of houses, school buildings and other structures besides snapping road connectivity in the Kashmir Valley, an official said on Sunday.

According to a CNN-IBN report, 21 people are missing after a house collapsed in the Laden village in Charar-e-Sharief area in Jammu and Kashmir.

"Over 80 structures, including residential homes, school buildings and other structures, have suffered damage due to flash floods since Saturday," an administrative officer told IANS.

According to The Indian Express, the flood alert was sounded in the valley, at 5.30 am on Monday. The officials said that at 6 am, the water level at Sangam in south Kashmir was recorded at 22.30 feet, (1.3 feet above the flood level and 0.7 below the danger mark) and at Ram Munshibagh in Srinagar it was at 18.55 feet (slightly higher than the flood alert level).

The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway was closed following landslides at a number of places. The Srinagar-Gulmarg road was also closed after a bridge in Kunzar village was washed away by the swollen Ferozepur Nallah.

There was water-logging in many commercial and residential areas in Srinagar.

However, the water level in the Jhelum river was below the danger mark, both at Sangam in Anantnag district and at Ram Munshibagh in Srinagar.

Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed took stock of the flood threat and reviewed the preparedness of the administration that has already been put on high alert.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh assured everyone that the government was on full alert.

"The state administration is on full alert in the wake of heavy rains in the Valley. The situation is being monitored continuously," Singh informed the Assembly here after members from different parties raised the issue of the flood threat. People should not panic and assured that all precautionary measures have been put in place," he said.

The Deputy Chief Minister informed that the water level at 11 am at Sangam stood at 12 ft against danger level of 18 ft.

At Ram Munshibagh, the water level was at 12.6 ft against alarm level of 16 ft, while at Asham it was 8.5 ft against alarm level of 30 feet, he said.

The water levels are being relayed to the control room on regular basis and right now there is no need for panic.

Also a team of ministers comprising Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Imran Raza Ansari, Mohammad Ashraf Mir, and Asiya Naqash are monitoring the situation on an hourly basis at Srinagar.

The Minister for Flood Control Sukhnandan Kumar is also on his way to Srinagar to take stock of the situation.

A team comprising Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and IGP, Kashmir, has been visiting various flood prone areas to ascertain the situation and precautionary measures taken at Divisional and District levels.

Meanwhile, a special control room has been established at Srinagar police headquarters to monitor the situation.

The Divisional Commissioner has also asked all Deputy Commissioners to remain vigilant, establish control rooms at their respective district headquarters and inform people to remain alert.

The University of Kashmir has postponed all examinations scheduled for Monday and Tuesday.

The local meteorological department has forecast moderate rain in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday and decrease in precipitation thereafter.

Over 200 people died in Jammu and Kashmir in the floods that wreaked havoc in the state after incessant rains in September 2014, leaving thousands homeless.